Can holder having means to grasp a horizontal member of a ladder



' Jan. 24, 1967 R. c. MALICOAT 3,300,157

CAN HOLDER HAVING MEANS TO GRASP A HORIZONTAL MEMBER OF A LADDER Filed NOV. 19, 1964 INVENTOR v 8X 2450276 Maw/1r ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,300,167 CAN HOLDER HAVING MEANS TO GRASP A HORIZONTAL MEMIEER OF A LADDER Robert C. Malicoat, Carmichael, Calif. (3405 Concetta Way, Sacramento, Calif. 95821) Filed Nov. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 412,403 4 Claims. (Cl. 248210) This invention relates to a can holding device and more particularly to a novel and improved holding device for use in gripping paint cans and is adapted to be used by a painter to retain the paint can or paint pail from which paint is to be dipped or otherwise used when painting surfaces.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel and simplified holding device for paint cans and the like which is generally of simplified construct-ion adapted to easily grasp and to be removed from paint cans or other cylindrical containers and which can be secured over steps of ladder assemblies such as are employed in present day construction, as it is well known that ladders, step ladders, and extension ladders, are for the most part constructed of aluminum and are constructed with steps rather than with rungs thereon.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simplified paint holder having a means thereon to secure paint cans and the like to rungs of ladders such as are found in wodden ladders of well known construct-ion.

Another object of the'invention is the provision of an improved holding device for cylindrical containers such as paint cans which is provided with a strap means for securing the paint cans and the like to structures standing upright from the ground.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a holding device for the purpose and having the characteristics enumerated abovewhich is further characterized by the simplicity and economy with which the same may be manufactured.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings disclosing the preferred construction of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the invention showing a can which is retained by my can holder over the steps of a ladder assembly.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the can holder of this invention;

FIGURE 3 represents a second embodiment of the invention and is a front elevational view thereof wherein a paint can is retained by a can holder of this invention over one rung of a conventional wooden ladder assembly.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the novel can holding device of this invention is seen to comprise a holding means 11 made from a strip of sheet metal which is bent to conform to the shape of a paint can such as is indicated by reference numeral 20. The strip of sheet metal is bent from a rectangular shaped sheet metal strip. Said strip is'folded back on itself at the ends thereof as is indicated by reference numeral 12. The thus shaped sheet metal which is preferably made of Phosphor bronze or of a material which will aiford some spring to permit the holding portion of the can holder to snap around the can and then grip the can tightly is adapted to lodge under and against the rim of the can indicated by reference numeral 21. A strap 18 is affixed at one end thereof to the can holding portion 11 centrally thereof as indicated by reference numeral 13, thereby separating the holding portion-11 into two arms, as seen in FIG. 2..

The strap means 13 extends from the can holder at 14 and is adapted to be draped over the steps 31 of the ladder "ice assembly 30, as is shown in FIGURE 1. A handle means 15 is provided at one end of the strap means at its other extremity, as is indicated by reference numeral 16.

In FIG. 3, a modification of the invention is illustrated wherein the portion of the strap means 14 which drapes over a round rung of the ladder has serrated teeth 17 thereon. These teeth help to prevent the can of paint from tilting toward the ladder. These serrated teeth 17 also serve to retain the paint can and to hold the can holder from slipping downward over the ladder rung due to the weight of the can.

The advantages and objects of my invention will now be apparent. The portion of the strap means adapted to to drape over a step of the ladder is of such length, as seen in FIG. 1, that it will easily fit over the step. To more positively retain the can on the ladder step, the strap means at 14 may have adhesive or other friction resistant material on the step side thereof. Thus, the strap may in effect be taped to the ladder step. The strap means at 14 may also be made from a resilient metal or shape retaining material. In the modification of the invention as seen in FIG. 3, the strap retaining means is curved instead of fiat so that the strap retaining means at 14 is adapted to fit over a conventional round rung. In this modifica tion the strap retaining means at 14 differs from the strap retaining means 14 as viewed in FIG. 1; also in that serrated teeth 17 are provided on the rung side thereof.

Irrespective of the variation of the invention used, the paint can may be controlled, by one standing on the ladder, by merely grasping the handle of the can holder and thereby manipulating the paint can about. This will serve to prevent paint from getting on the hands from spill or runover which is usually the case when handling a paint can without a handle. Quart cans of paint are never made with a bail thereon and when using such cans as in touching up and especially in painting on trim colors, the advantage of using my improved paint can holder will :be readily apparent. When using my device to hold gallon cans, the advantage of being able to paint, without avoid-ing the bail which would otherwise be in the way every time one dipped his brush as it would be when the can hangs from a regular or conventional hook, is readily apparent.

The top projection rim which is present on all paint cans, regardless of size, prevents the can from falling through the holding portion of the can holder. As previously mentioned, the can holding portion itself is preferably made of Phosphor bronze or at least of a material which will afford some spring to permit the arms of the holding portion to snap around the can and then grip the can tightly. The stra-p means 18 can be made from a re silient metal, e.g., Phosphor bronze, or can be made from a harder metal. An adhesive backing, whereby the strap retaining portion can in effect be taped to the ladder step, or the serrated teeth, as seen in FIG. 3, will further serve to retain the can holder in position. When a resilient metal is used the can holder strap means will substantially maintain a permanent shape as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, which will serve to retain the can holder in position. The can holder may readily be picked up by the handle 15 since the strap retaining portion will be rigid enough to allow such manipulation of the can holder. Here also an adhesive backing can be used on the ladder step or rung side of the strap retaining means 14 to assist in holding the can holder in position. In the rung securing arrangement, as illustrated in FIG. 3, serrated teeth may be employed as mentioned supra.

The strap holding means may be afiixed to the can holding means by welding, by the use of pins, screws, or rivets, or in any conventional manner of securing two such independent means together.

This invention is useful, as discussed above, to hold paint cans. It is further contemplated, however, that this invention can be used to hold other cans, including juice cans, etc. When so using this invention, a sure grip is realized and a medium is provided whereby said cans may easily be poured.

Although I have shown and described the preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not intend to be limited specifically to what is shown and described herein. Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will after having read my disclosure notice modifications and variations hereof which do not depart from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications of my invention as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A unitary can holder comprising:

a holder formed from a strip of material configured as a major portion of a circle, the strip being of sulficient strength to support a can and of suflicient resiliency to receive a can;

a strap type support securely affixed to the holder intermediate the ends thereof and extending away therefrom, the support being configured to grasp a horizontal support of a ladder and thereby retain the can holder on the ladder, the support including a first upstanding segment adjacent the holder adapted to abut the leading edge of a ladder step;

a second generally horizontal segment, secured to the first segment, adapted to overlie the load receiving portion of the step; and

a third depending segment, secured to the second segment and spaced from the first segment, adapted to abut the trailing edge of the step; and

a handle on the support opposite from the holder.

2. The can holder of claim 1 wherein the second segment of the support is vertically upwardly spaced from the uppermost edge of the holder when the can holder is positioned on a ladder step for positioning the upper edge of the can below the second segment.

3. A unitary can holder comprising:

a holder formed from a strip of material configured as a major portion of a circle, the strip being of sufiicient strength to support a "can and of sufficient resiliency to receive a can;

a strap type support securely affixed to the holder intermediate the ends thereof and extending away therefrom, the support being configured to grasp a horizontal support of a ladder and thereby retain the can holder on the ladder, the support including a segment forming a major portion of a circle and having a plurality of inwardly directed teeth thereon for increasing the forces holding the segment on a ladder rung, the segment being adapted to surround closely a ladder rung through a major portion of the circumference thereof; and

a handle on the support opposite from the holder.

4. The can holder of claim 3 wherein the uppermost portion of the segment is vertically upwardly spaced from the uppermost edge of the holder when the can holder is positioned on a ladder rung for positioning the upper edge of the can below the segment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 604,549 5/1898 Spencer 248l0 1,087,603 2/1914 Nellis 248-210 1,187,498 6/1916 Castle 22017 1,858,656 5/1932 Batherman 248210 2,770,411 11/1956 MacKay.

3,104,859 9/1963 Hoelzel 248210 FOREIGN PATENTS 213,666 11/1955 Australia. 287,398 6/1931 Italy.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Examinen 

1. A UNITARY CAN HOLDER COMPRISING: A HOLDER FORMED FROM A STRIP OF MATERIAL CONFIGURED AS A MAJOR PORTION OF A CIRCLE, THE STRIP BEING OF SUFFICIENT STRENGTH TO SUPPORT A CAN AND OF SUFFICIENT RESILIENCY TO RECEIVE A CAN; A STRAP TYPE SUPPORT SECURELY AFFIXED TO THE HOLDER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND EXTENDING AWAY THEREFROM, THE SUPPORT BEING CONFIGURED TO GRASP A HORIZONTAL SUPPORT OF A LADDER AND THEREBY RETAIN THE CAN HOLDER ON THE LADDER, THE SUPPORT INCLUDING A FIRST UPSTANDING SEGMENT ADJACENT THE HOLDER ADAPTED TO ABUT THE LEADING EDGE OF A LADDER STEP; A SECOND GENERALLY HORIZONTAL SEGMENT, SECURED TO THE FIRST SEGMENT, ADAPTED TO OVERLIE THE LOAD RECEIVING PORTION OF THE STEP; AND 